Ronnie O'Sullivan has raised the familiar red flag of a retirement threat after accusing World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn of leading an institution that has bullied him.

A stunning verbal attack from O'Sullivan came on the second day of the World Championship.

It was triggered by the five-time Crucible champion being reminded that Hearn said his clipped answers and eccentric behaviour in recent media interviews had become "embarrassing".

The 41-year-old cueman turned the tables on Hearn and his board, stating he had been left distressed by a letter from disciplinary chiefs after he criticised referee Terry Camilleri and swore at a press photographer during January's Masters.

"I phoned Barry up four weeks ago and I said, 'Look Barry, I'm done with all you and your board of people'," O'Sullivan said.

"I've got a very good friend of mine who said, 'Just let my lawyers deal with it'. I won't get involved with it because I'm not being bullied, I'm not having people doing that to me ever again. I like Barry but I'm not being intimidated or bullied any more."

"I've given 25 years of service to this game and I think I've given enough. Drop me out, I don't need you, you probably don't need me."

Hearn issued a response through a statement on Monday, saying: "I personally take any accusation of 'bullying and intimidation' by me or World Snooker very seriously.

"Unfounded accusations such as these are damaging to World Snooker's global reputation, as well as my own, and we will take whatever action is required to protect this reputation from such inaccurate comments.

"I hope all parties can move on from this position and concentrate on the brilliant entertainment provided by players at the Betfred World Championship."

O'Sullivan has threatened to quit snooker many times over his career. The former world No. 1's latest comments were explosive, yet it is worth remembering that although O'Sullivan was asked to explain his Masters remarks, he avoided punishment.

The crowd favourite made the accusations after launching his 25th Crucible campaign with a 10-7 win over Wallsend's Gary Wilson, whose debut in Sheffield won him new admirers.

O'Sullivan said the strain upon him from receiving the disciplinary letter had ruined his season since the Masters, and he had become reluctant to engage with media out of concern for any comments triggering more action.

"I've had it for five, six, seven years, and I'm just done with it," O'Sullivan added. "It's not that important. I could go and do Big Brother, I could go and do I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here, I could have a great life doing other stuff.

"This is something I do for love, but I'm not going to do it and have people trying to intimidate me and bully me."